What do you think?

I was thinking of adding this program from the 2008 NHL Entry Draft to my want list for Tampa Bay's top pick Steven Stamkos.

I suppose, too, I should try to get fellow first-rounders Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings, second overall), Alex Pietrangelo (St. Louis Blues, fourth overall), Tyler Myers (Buffalo Sabres, 12th overall), Zach Bogosian (Atlanta Thrashers, third overall) and Luke Schenn (Toronto Maple Leafs, fifth overall).

Mixed feelings

I don't know about you, but this is the time of the hockey season that I start to dread. On one hand, the intensity and physicality of conference championships promise some of the most exciting hockey of the season. Conversely, though, they also mean that the season is nearly over. What do you think?

What do you think?

When Tampa Bay's Mike Smith signed the 258th puck of the 2007-08 campaign (and the 1,533rd of the collection) during a red-carpet ceremony Monday before the Lightning's final home game of the season, it's safe to say that Hound Central 3.0 had a pretty decent season of hounding.

That total, however, doesn't include all of the cards, helmets, jerseys, sticks and team sheets we got signed this season.

Sunday morning homily XXIV

In less than a week, I get to enjoy yet another spring break here in Florida. With Colin off from school and an early vacation request approved at work, we're looking forward to some fun in the sun.

We're planning on getting in a little hounding, watching some hockey, going camping (in the backyard, though), exploring Florida's wildlife, practicing our skating and, basically, hanging out. And, we might even check out the St. Petersburg Grand Prix.

More than anything else, our vacation together will provide yet another opportunity to strengthen a bond between father and son. As Colin grows older, I know these instances may prove more difficult to arrange. Schedules, from work to school to play, will likely see to that.

That's why hockey will play a big part of our time off together. Not just in the weeks ahead, but hopefully through our shared lifetimes. Now that Colin asks pretty good questions about the game, wanting to know about penalties, arenas and certain players on other teams, I know the seed has taken sprout.

Now, it's time to watch it grow.

What do you think?

Now that the hockey world, or at least our little speck of it, knows the Tampa Bay Lightning won't be making the NHL playoffs, I'm wondering why the team isn't shutting down stars Vincent Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis for the season.

With a season as frustrating as this, and nagging bumps and bruises starting to chip away at productivity, I believe it makes more sense to start their summers early, giving them a chance to heal -- physically, mentally and emotionally.

I doubt it will happen, though. No one wants to be accused of tanking a season, even if it means a No. 1 overall pick.

5 Big Sigs

In what will be the final full week of hockey hounding for the 2007-08 season in Tampa Bay, I can begin to close out the campaign by adding these cherry-picked items to the collection:

~ Florida's Tomas Vokoun on Panthers cards;
~ Washington's Olaf Kolzig on new and old school Capitals pucks;
~ Washington's Sergei Fedorov on anything;
~ Carolina's Eric Staal on a 2008 NHL All-Star Game puck; and
~ Carolina's Tuomo Ruutu and Sergei Samsonov on Hurricanes pucks.

What do you think?

To Philadelphia: Brad Richards, Dan Boyle and Marc Denis
To Tampa Bay: Jeff Carter, Kimmo Timonen and Antero Niittymaki

What do you think?

Even though Pittsburgh's Jordan Staal logged two goals and an assist in the Penguins' 4-1 victory over the Lightning last night, I still say he's this season's poster boy for sophomore slumps.

Any other contenders?

What do you think?

To Vancouver: Brad Richards, Dan Boyle and Marc Denis

To Tampa: Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler and Aaron Miller

What do you think?

Anyone else see a young Larry Robinson in Panthers defenseman Jay Bouwmeester? Think about it and get back to me. Please?

Nice touch, too, by the Habs raising Big Bird's No. 19 to the rafters of Montreal's Bell Centre.